The City Of Pella is partnering with the Pella Area Community and Economic Alliance to incentivize shopping local during the ongoing situation with COVID-19.
Pella Mayor Don DeWaard announced today a program called “Pay it Forward Pella” in which residents are encouraged to spend dollars locally–anyone who spends $100 at local businesses can earn $10 of Pella Bucks from the PACE Alliance. All shoppers need to do is shop local, save their receipts, fill out a simple form and send it to the PACE office. The PACE Alliance staff will process and mail out the earned Pella Bucks within 3 business days.
FROM THE PACE ALLIANCE:
“Most of our favorite restaurants and stores are offering curbside pickup, delivery, or online shopping options to keep their employees working and needs met. To do our part, the PACE Alliance and the City of Pella are partnering on a new Pay It Forward Pella program to promote local shopping during this time. We want to reward our community members for supporting local small businesses by giving them Free Pella Bucks. Think of it as getting paid to shop local!”
Since the Pay It Forward Pella program is to support our local businesses during this difficult time, some restrictions do apply (see below).
Purchases that can help support our small retailers and restaurants:
-Gift Certificates or Gift Cards
-Order carryout or delivery meals
-Shop our small retailer’s online stores
-Buy someone in need a meal
-Prepay a membership to support your local gym or non-profit
-Buy movie passes to watch all the new releases that will come out when all this is over
-Send flowers to brighten someone’s day
How it Pay It Forward Pella works:
-You spend money at local Pella retailers or restaurants.
-Save your receipt(s) from your transaction.
-Get $10 in “Pella Bucks” for every qualifying $100 spent.
-Place your receipts (or copies) into an envelope along with the form on the Pay it Forward Pella webpage. Mail to PACE Alliance, 818 Washington St, Pella IA 50219.
-Earned Pella Bucks will be mailed to you from the PACE Alliance office within 3 business days.
-Spend your earned Pella Bucks at local retailers and restaurants (not valid for use on: account payments, deposit to a bank account, make investments or make utility payments
Details of the Pay It Forward Pella program are available online at pella.org along with the latest on restaurants and retail stores. The PACE Alliance is working closely with Pella Hosting to modify the PellaNow app where all the information will be updated regularly. Download the app at PellaNow.com, Google Play Store [Android], or App Store [Apple].
“I think this is a fantastic idea,” said Mayor Don De Waard. “Leadership from the President on down are working to get funds into the hands of small business owners, and the City of Pella is excited to partner with the PACE Alliance on this welcomed project. As a community, we will come back from this. And with the community’s help, it hopefully won’t take long.”
DeWaard says the cancellation of Tulip Time will have a significant impact on the local economy, as many local small business owners rely on the successful tourism season during April and May as the busiest shopping season of the year locally.
DeWaard stressed the importance of adhering to CDC Guidelines as it relates to the health and well-being of everyone, and says that’s the most important reminder. City of Pella offices and departments remain closed to the general public through April 13th, and staff will handle all inquiries by phone or email.